Assessing students’ English language competences is a complex process that involves the balanced measurement of receptive and productive skills (listening, reading, speaking, writing), as well as monitoring individual progress. In the context of contemporary education, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used to support teachers in implementing formative, objective, and personalized assessment practices. The use of AI in assessment does not replace the teacher’s role but complements it by providing rapid feedback, detailed analyses, and learning opportunities adapted to students’ needs (Luckin et al., 2016, p. 23).
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Language Assessment
Artificial intelligence can be used in English language assessment through educational applications and platforms that analyse students’ responses, identify error patterns, and provide personalized feedback. These tools enable continuous, process-oriented assessment and support the development of learner autonomy (Holmes, Bialik & Fadel 2019: 41).
In language assessment, AI is particularly useful for:
- analysing written production (grammatical accuracy, vocabulary range, coherence);
- evaluating pronunciation and oral fluency;
- generating adaptive tests; – monitoring individual progress over time.
Practical Classroom Applications of AI in Assessment
The following examples illustrate concrete AI-based tools that can be integrated into everyday classroom practice, supporting teachers in assessing English language skills while maintaining pedagogical control and ethical standards.
1. Assessing Writing Skills
AI-based writing tools such as Grammarly, Write & Improve (Cambridge), or integrated AI feedback systems in learning platforms can be used to assess students’ compositions or essays in English. For example, students may write a descriptive or narrative text, and the AI tool provides feedback on sentence structure, verb tense usage, lexical variety, and coherence. These tools highlight errors and offer suggestions without automatically correcting the text, encouraging active learning.
Classroom applicability: at lower secondary level, students can write a short email or diary entry in English using Write & Improve. The AI-generated feedback is analysed together with the teacher, focusing on self-assessment, error patterns, and conscious correction strategies.
2. Assessing Speaking Skills
Speech recognition tools such as Google Speech-to-Text, Microsoft Reading Progress, or language learning apps with AI-based pronunciation analysis (e.g. ELSA Speak) allow the assessment of pronunciation, intonation, and fluency. Students can record oral answers to prompts or deliver short presentations, while AI provides indicative scores and targeted feedback on pronunciation and pacing.
Classroom applicability: students in grades 5–6 may describe an image or a familiar person using Microsoft Reading Progress. The teacher compares the automated pronunciation feedback with direct classroom observation to ensure a balanced and fair assessment (Chapelle & Douglas 2006: 87).
3. Adaptive Tests for Vocabulary and Grammar
AI enables the creation of adaptive tests through platforms such as Duolingo for Schools, Quizizz, or Kahoot! with AI-powered analytics. These systems adjust task difficulty based on students’ responses and provide teachers with detailed performance reports.
Classroom applicability: at the beginning of a teaching unit, teachers can use Duolingo for Schools to administer a diagnostic test that identifies students’ vocabulary and grammar levels, allowing instructional strategies to be adapted accordingly.
4. Formative Assessment and Immediate Feedback
One of the major advantages of AI is the provision of immediate feedback, which strongly supports formative assessment. Platforms such as Google Forms with AI-assisted analysis, Quizizz, or Edpuzzle provide instant results, error explanations, and progress tracking (Hattie & Timperley 2007: 90).
Classroom applicability: interactive quizzes created with Quizizz can be used at the end of a lesson to check understanding, with results analysed instantly by the teacher and used to plan remedial or extension activities.
Benefits and Limitations of AI-Based Assessment
The main benefits of using artificial intelligence in English language assessment include: – increased objectivity; – time efficiency for teachers; – rapid and personalized feedback; – increased student motivation.
However, AI also has limitations, such as difficulties in assessing creativity, cultural context, or emotional nuances in communication. Therefore, AI-assisted assessment should be integrated into a balanced pedagogical approach in which the teacher remains the main decision-maker (OECD 2021: 112).
Conclusions
The integration of concrete AI tools demonstrates the practical relevance and transferability of AI-assisted assessment into real classroom contexts, strengthening the academic and applied value of this study.
Assessing students in English with the support of artificial intelligence represents an opportunity to modernize educational practices and promote personalized learning. When used appropriately, AI contributes to effective, transparent, and student-centred formative assessment, without diminishing the essential role of the teacher. The responsible integration of AI tools in classroom practice should be guided by ethical considerations, equity, and the development of genuine communicative competence.
References
Chapelle, C. A., & Douglas, D. (2006). Assessing language through computer technology. Cambridge University Press.
Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81–112.
Holmes, W., Bialik, M., & Fadel, C. (2019). Artificial intelligence in education: Promises and implications for teaching and learning. Center for Curriculum Redesign.
Luckin, R., Holmes, W., Griffiths, M., & Forcier, L. B. (2016). Intelligence unleashed: An argument for AI in education. Pearson Education.
OECD. (2021). Artificial intelligence in education: Challenges and opportunities. OECD Publishing.